Advance Statement

"The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (“the Act”) sets out how people can be treated if they are unwell and need treatment for mental disorder. Mental disorder, as defined by the Act means mental illness, learning disability or personality disorder. The Act allows an individual to make a written statement, when they are well, which sets out how they would prefer to be treated (or not treated) if they were to become unwell in the future and their ability to make decisions about their treatment is significantly impaired. This is called an advance statement and is relevant only to treatment for mental disorder as defined by the Act. It is not known how many people have made advance statements since the Act came into effect in 2005. Some people have found them to be very helpful. However, it would appear that fewer people than expected have made advance statements. There may be a number of reasons for this. Anecdotally, the Commission is aware that some individuals think that it is not worth it as they will be overridden anyway; others have said that they do not wish to contemplate the possibility that they may become unwell again in the future. Some professionals and service users have found them difficult to understand.This guidance has been produced with the hope that it may increase the number of advance statements that are made. They are an important contributor to the collaboration between the clinical team and the patient in promoting a therapeutic relationship and aiding recovery."

---------------------------Here is a copy of my Advance Statement which I have created in consultation with a psychiatrist who works in my local area, NHS Fife. I may update this in the future: